Railroad-switch



(No Model.) M RAILROAD SWITCH.

Patented Feb. 17, 18 91 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN IIYNES, OF HAMILTON, MINNESOTA.

RAILROAD-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 446,? 50, dated February 17, 1891.

Application filed October 14, 1890. Serial No. 368,139. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN HYNEs, oi llamilton, in the county of Scott and State of Min nesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switches 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and useit, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in railroad-switches; and it consists in the combination and construction of parts which will be fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to apply an operating mechanism to the switch rails both at their free end and near their center and to provide a short pivoted section of a rail which sinks out of the way when not in use, but which, when required, rises into position, so as to make connection between the switchrail and the rail of the side track.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a switch which embodies my invention. Figs. 2, 3, and e are detail views of the same, Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View of the adjoining ends of the rails D B E and the short rail IV.

A B represent the rails of the main track, 0 D the rails of the side tracks, and E E the switchra-ils, which are held parallel by the rods F. The rail E is made somewhat longer than the rail E, so that when the switch-rails are moved to make connection with the rails of one of the side tracks they will do so without the intervention of any other parts, but will not make connection when moved in the opposite direction with the side track upon the other side of the main line, as will be more fully described hereinafter. These two switch-rails are supported at their free ends and at or near their centers by the headblocks G P, the one G being much the longer of the two. In each of these head-blocks there is 'formed a suitable longitudinal groove or recess, and in these recesses are placed clutchbars M R, to which the switclrrails are secured. To these clutch-bars are secured the rack-bars L Q, of suitable length, and with which the operating-wheels engage for the purpose of applying to the ends and centers of the switch-rail at the same time the motive power for moving them, so as to make them connect with the main or side tracks at the will of the operator.

The vertical operating switch lever Y is provided with a large wheel H near its lower end, so as to engage with the rack-bar L, and secured to this lever above the Wheel H is the small beveled pinion I, which meshes with a corresponding pinion K, secured to one end of the shaft S. To the other end of the shaft S is secured the pinion J, which meshes with the rack-bar Q. hen the vertical lever Y is turned by means of its handle X, as shown in Fig. 2, the motive power is applied at both the free end and the center of the switch-rails simultaneously.

\V hen the switch-rails are moved so as to make connection with the side track 1]), the short switch-rail E will not make connection with the inner rail of the side track by a number of inches, and hence it becomes necessary to provide means for making up this deficiency. For this purpose there is pivoted in the head-block G a lever or arm 0, and upon the free end of this lever or arm is a short section or rail IV, which is at the end of and parallel with the inner rail of the side track D. When this rail 7 is not in use, it drops into the head-block G, as shown in Fig. 2; but when in use it serves to connect the short switch-rail with the inner rail of the side track D. In order to raise this rail V into position just when it is needed, there is an inclined plane or wedge Z connected to and moving with the clutch-bar M, and this wedge moves under the lever O as the clutchbar M is moved in the direction of the side track D and raises the short section or rail Wand supports it in position. \Vhen the switch-rails are moved away from the side track D, the short section or rail IV automatically drops out of the way.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the switch-rails, suit able head-blocks upon which the rails are supported, clutch bars to which the rails are secured,and an operating mechanism whereby the motive power for moving the rails is applied to them both at their free end and at their center, substantially as shown.

2. The combination of the switch-rails,- the head-blocks upon which the rails 1n0ve,clutchthe rack-bar, the lever for moving the clutchbars to which-the rails are secured, rack-bars bar, andthe short section of the rail W, which secured to the clutch-bars, a vertical operatis pivoted to thehead-block, substantially as ing-lever provided with operating-wheels, and specified.

5 the shaft provided with pinions, substantially In testimony whereof I affix my signature in I 5 as described. presence of two witnesses.

3. The combination of the switch-rails, one MARTIN IIYNES. of which is shorter than the other, the rails Vitnesses: of the side track, the head-block G, the clutch- V. J. ATKINSON, 10 bar provided With an inclined plane or wedge, JAMES FAHEY. 

